We all want to get better at golf…right?
One of the most addictive parts of the game of golf is the journey to improve our swing and our score.
There is nothing better than shooting a new all time low score and winning a fun bet against your playing partners.
The driver shot that flies down the fairway over 250 yards or the iron shot inside of 3 feet is something special. It brings a certain level of satisfaction and joy to the round of golf and your day.
In today’s golf market there are plenty of swing training tools or aids that are marketed in magazines, websites and television. We are constantly bombarded with the latest, greatest swing tool to improve our game. But, what really can help with swing improvement?
Below, I dive into my top 5 swing improvement tools
Golf Swing Improvement Tools – Top 5
- A Launch Monitor
- SuperSpeed Training System
- Alignment Sticks
- Video Camera
- Online Videos
The good news is that looking at the list above, the alignment sticks are very affordable. If you have a smartphone, the video camera is probably in your pocket (no cost), and there are plenty of online videos to help take your game to the next level.
We could spend time recommending all of these different training aids and tools, but the bottom line is that with the 5 tools above you can make improvements and take your game to the next level. The 5 tools above, when paired with the two drills recommended at the bottom, puts you in a great place to improve your swing and your score.
Here is a our formula…5 Tools Above + 2 Drills Below + Time = Game Improvement
Let’s dive into each tool above!
Tool #1: A Launch Monitor
I am not recommending that you fork over 15,000 dollars or more for a high end launch monitor like a Trackman, but instead would point you in the direction of the Skytrak or the Mevo+. Both tools will provide you with the following data after every swing:
- Carry and Total Distance
- Ball Speed
- Launch Angle
- Spin Rate
- Spin Axis
- Shot Tracer
These are six valuable data sets or images that can help transform your game. When paired with the other 4 tools on the list, you are on your way.
I personally went with the Skytrak and built the complete golf simulator setup in my garage. I am able to play actual rounds of golf at places like Augusta, Pebble, Whistling Straits, Bethpage Black, Oakmont and St. Andrews. I get to play actual shots and get real time data on what took place in my swing.
On my golf journey, I have been able to improve from a 76-80 level golfer, down to the scratch level at this point in my journey. The Skytrak has played a major role in this improvement. There are a number of reasons: I can play golf 365 days a year, I have real time feedback, I have played over 900 rounds in 4 years on the simulator.
Full post: Skytrak: The Ultimate Game Improvement Tool!
If you don’t want to go the full route with the simularo, the launch monitor can help you with a simple mat, at the driving range or even on the golf course. The device can connect to your phone for versatility in many different locations! The data is helpful and it is fun to see the shot tracer on every shot you hit!
The great news is that a place like Rain or Shine golf has great deals and offers financing. Check them out below:
Tool #2: SuperSpeed Training System
I spent many years wondering how I can increase my swing speed. When I was playing junior golf, we weren’t fortunate enough to have some of the training aids and knowledge that is now available. Smart people have studied the golf swing and have created training aids and protocols to help all golfers increase their distance!
At around the same time, the statistics from the PGA Tour have become more clear and the importance of speed is acknowledged by many to be a key to being the best on the PGA Tour.
Within the past several years, there have been several products hit the market to make speed gains possible. While many people for many years waited for the latest driver to come out to gain an additional 5-10 yards, you can now do this even with your current clubs.
Did you know that with the SuperSpeed Training System you can gain 5-8% increase in swing speed as early as the first training session? This would allow you to gain somewhere between 10 and 30 yards depending on your current swing speed.
SuperSpeed Golf – Use Discount Code Golfjourney365 for some savings!
The SuperSpeed Training System is based on three different swing speed sticks all weighing at different weights. There is a green club that is 10% lighter than the average driver, the blue club which is 5% lighter and the red club which is actually 5% heavier!
Following their prescribed protocols the golfer completes the training every other day. The total time to complete most of their protocols is between 10-15 minutes. Most people can find the time to make this happen. The golfer will also need a swing radar to measure their progress.
The science behind the SuperSpeed Training System is based on overspeed training. Overspeed training has been around for several decades now and has been used by olympic athletics in the sport of Track and Field.
The science behind this overspeed training is based on the premise that your brain will only allow your body to move as fast as it feels it can stop safely! So, you get to work and swing the clubs as fast as possible, retraining your brain to allow you to swing your driver faster.
For more permanent results, the golfer should continue these training protocols for several months. The initial 5-8% is great and can become more permanent with the right length of training. The golfer can expect to continue to break down barriers every several months at a 1-2% increase.
My own experience has been an increase of 7-10 miles per hour on average from between 98-101 all the way up to 106-109. My goal is to hit the PGA Tour average of 113 mph in the coming months. I will continue to train every other day and watch in amazement as I am hitting drivers longer now than ever before!
Phil Mickelson (a senior golfer now) has been known to increase his swing speed in the past year or so and is close to 120 miles per hour in his swing speed. There are potential results for golfers of all ability levels and age!
Check the current price on SuperSpeed Golf System, here!
| Original Swing Speed | After 4-6 Weeks | New Carry Distance | Total Distance |
| 95 | 102 | 245 | 265 |
| 100 | 108 | 259 | 279 |
| 105 | 113 | 271 | 291 |
| 110 | 118 | 283 | 303 |
Tool #3: Alignment Sticks
You might not find this item on the list of most recommendations. However, the alignment stick should be staple in every serious golfer’s bag. These will be needed when you get to our two key drills to help you take your game to the next level and find that ultimate swing improvement!
The alignment sticks are vital in developing a stock shot. The golfer has to be able to control the start line and the curve of the ball to get better. Through constant practice with the stock shot drill this can be achieved.
Tool #4: Video Camera
A golfer has to be able to see what is going on with their swing as the feel is often not real. While golfers might not be experts enough to truly analyze the swing, with access to some of the best teachers in the world via the internet, recommendations or breakdowns by the best are accessible with a little bit of money.
Take a video of your swing from the side and down the line and find a trusted golf instructor to give your swing a look and make recommendations! The great news about the video camera is that we have a highly capable, high definition camera in our pocket through our smartphones.
Tool #5: Online Videos
Wow! The access to instruction has never been better. Back when I was a junior golfer our only learning could come through the golf magazines and that was during a terrible era when instructors were teaching hip restriction and other swing advice that has been proven wrong and bad for the golf swing. Now, you can preview your favorite instructor and find what swing philosophies and communication styles best match up with your game, your swing and your personality. The possibilities are endless. Some quick tips:
- Once you explore and find an instructor you like, stick with that instructor for at least 6 months.
- Check out who might offer a swing analysis or monthly consulting.
- Enjoy the process and commit. Make sure you put enough time in to game and swing improvement.
2 Key Drills
Regardless of who you select to follow along with and the route that you go, check out these two drills to help you start to improve today. These two drills are the foundation of any good swing as they promote solid contact, controlling the start line and controlling the curve of your golf ball. The golfer that can hit the ball solidly, know where their ball is going to start and which way it will curve will find the consistency we all crave in your golf game.
Drill: Low Point Control Drill
- Paint a 2-3 yard long line with some yard paint.
- Place the wiffle ball on the line.
- The goal is to have your divot start just on the target side of your line.
- Go ahead and hit shot after shot, working on controlling your low point and your entry into the ground.
- Assess your success rate out of 20 times and write it down.
- Complete this drill daily for several weeks and see if your game improves at the course.
If you start to hit the ball poorly at any point on your golf journey, return to this drill and keep it simple.
Full post on lowering your scores in golf!
Drill: Stock Shot Drill
- Set up an alignment stick 6-8 yards down your target line in front of the ball.
- If you have one, set up a second alignment stick 2-4 feet right of that target line
- Go ahead and see how many swings out of 10 you can get the ball to start to the right of the first of the alignment stick. The goal here is to progress to 7 out of 10.
- Practice this drill everytime you hit golf balls.
Full post on the Stock Shot in Golf!
The key to golf is being able to control your contact and your start line.
Could you imagine heading to the golf course with the confidence that you are going to strike the ball solid, start on your intended line and control the curve. This would be the ultimate in golf, assuming you have a quality short game!
Recommendations: Based on What?
The recommendations above are based on what I believe the three fundamentals to golf truly are:
The Stack and Tilt Instructors said it best when they described what they believed were the fundamentals of golf. They explained it somewhat similar to this:
- Fundamental #1: The golfer’s ability to control the bottom of the golf swing. The best golfers will hit the ground in the intended spot, close to 100% of the time.
- Fundamental #2: The golfer’s ability to control the curve of the golf ball. The best golfers are able to start the ball to the right or left of the target line and have the ball curve towards the target without the ball over curving past the target.
- Fundamental #3: The golfer’s ability to have enough power to play the golf course. This means they are able to hit the ball far enough to play the course in regulation.
These five tools in addition to the two drills can help with each of the 3 fundamentals explained above. When you can control these three factors in the swing, you are on your way to quality golf! Don’t forget about the short game
My Secret To Golf Improvement
Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage. I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.
This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer. I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day. I can practice or play rounds of golf. I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.
It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.
Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.